How can I help my child avoid asthma triggers?

Help your child avoid asthma triggers — allergens or irritants in the environment that can trigger asthma symptoms — by, first, identifying what those triggers are. Then, reduce your child's exposure to them as much as possible.

Common asthma triggers

Asthma triggers can include:

Pollen

Dust mites

Cockroaches

Pet dander

Indoor molds

Wood and tobacco smoke

Air pollution

Viruses

Cold air

Physical activity

Chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be found in paints, flooring and other household products

Stress and negative emotions

Each child may have a different set of asthma triggers, so it's important to know what your child is susceptible to. Consider getting an allergy skin test, which can pinpoint specific allergy triggers.

It may also help to monitor activities and symptoms in a daily diary, so you can identify environmental or activity-related triggers that make your child's asthma worse.

Reduce allergens and irritants in your home

If pollen, dust mites and pet dander are among your child's asthma triggers:

Use an air conditioner and dehumidifier to keep humidity levels low.

Use air filtration devices to keep indoor air clean.

Wash bedding regularly on the hottest settings.

Dust and vacuum regularly.

Steam clean carpets regularly.

If possible, replace carpets with hard flooring, such as vinyl, tile or wood; hard surface flooring contains high levels of VOCs, so consider certified low-VOC options.

Bathe pets regularly and limit their access to places where your child spends a lot of time.

Avoid cigarette and other types of smoke.

Manage environment, activities and emotions

If certain activities and emotions trigger your child's asthma:

Help your child recognize situations that may trigger symptoms.

Ask your child's doctor about the possibility of taking medication before physical activity.

Avoids strenuous outdoor activity when air pollution or pollen levels are high.

Legal Conditions and Terms

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.